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Global cruise industry announces latest safety policy

The cruise industry has beefed up its safety policy regarding the loading of lifeboats by crew members for training purposes, with immediate effect.

This policy, announced by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the European Cruise Council (ECC), exceeds current international regulatory requirements and is an outcome of the Cruise Industry Operational Safety Review, launched in January 2012 following the Costa Concordia disaster.

The new “Life Boat Loading for Training Purposes” policy requires the launching and full loading of a lifeboat at least once every six months for crew training purposes. The policy applies to all oceangoing members of CLIA and ECC.

During the training, the lifeboat is filled to capacity with crew members and manoeuvered in the water to facilitate familiarisation with lifeboat operations. It is mandatory that all crew members involved in operating or loading of lifeboats attend the drill. Smaller ships with less than 300 crew members will conduct similar training as appropriate.

“The cruise industry continues to work on a global level to improve the safety of passengers and crew, which is our number one priority,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA.

“Since January of this year, and in keeping with our efforts to continuously improve operational excellence, the global cruise industry has voluntarily adopted seven wide-ranging safety policies. We remain fully committed to exploring further enhancements in a number of areas that will add to the industry’s excellent safety record.”

Commenting on the new policy David Dingle, pictured, a member of the European Cruise Council executive, said: “This policy exceeds current stringent international regulatory requirements and has been independently verified by highly respected marine safety experts. It, along with the other seven policies voluntarily adopted by the industry this year, underlines our absolute commitment to continuously improving safety for our passengers and crew. We are determined to ensure that cruising remains the safest holiday choice.”

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